Machine and process for blending and stripping tobacco



June 15 1926. v 1,588,511

J. H. AUSTIN r AL MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR BLE NDING AND STRIPPING TOBACCO Original Filed p 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR S Jose/11 ll fl s fin and BY Be i- YY. g'drnz ATTORNEY June 15 ,1926. 1,588,511

J. H. AUSTIN ET AL MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR BLENDING AND STRIPPING TOBACCO Original Filed 192,4 '7 Sheets-Sh et 2 June 15 192.6.

J. H. AUSTIN ET AL MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR BLENDING AND STRIPPING TOBACCO Origipai Filed Sep 29, 1924' '7'Shee'tsrSheet 5 IN VENTOR S June 15 1926;

J. H. AUSTlN ET AL- MACHINE AND'PROCESS FOR BLENDING' AND STRIPPING TOBACCO Original Filed Sept. 29, '1924 June 15 1926. 1,588,511

J. H. AUSTIN El AL MACHINE AND PROCESS FUR BLENDING: AND STRIPPING TOBACCO I Original Filed 9 1924 7 Sheets-Shet 5 June 15,1926. 1 1,588,511

J. H. AUSTIN El AL MACHINE AND PRQCESS FOR BLENDING AND STRIPPING T OBACCO Original vFiled p 29r-1924 '7 Sheeis-Sheet- 6 Jim 15 1926.

J. H AUSTIN ET AL MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR BLENDING AND STRIFPING TOBACCO 'r Sheets-She; 7

Original Filed QP 29, 1924 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED stares vPa :e111" OFFER.

JOSEPH 11'. AUSTIN AND BERT W. GINN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CGMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

JERSEY.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR BLENDZNf-I'w AND STRIPPING TOBAGCQ.

Application filed September 29, 1924, Serial No. 740,561. Renewed. November 12, 1825.

is desirable that as large a proportion as possible of the lamina be retained, with as small a proportion as possible of the woody stems, in order that all of the valuable portion be utilized. 7

in the methods at present practiced, the lamina is stripped from the main stem while the stem is grasped in some portion of its length to make counter resistance, or the leaf is subjected to the action of disintegrators or thrashers, which break up, and after wards, screen the lighter portions from the heavier.

Neither method is entirely satisfactory. in neither is the separation complete, a large portion of the valuable lamina remaining with the stem. In the former method the process is slow and expensive, requiring as it does, individual. treatment of the leaves, and in the latter, the separated lamina contains a large proportion of the undesirable woody stem. Furthermore, an appreciable amount of the lamina in the form of finer particles is lost in the process of separation.

An object of the present invention. is to provide a method of complete separation of lamina and leaf, adapted. to operate upon the leaf in mass, with a minimum of manual manipulation.

Another object is to provide a method which includes blending of the tobacco prior to the separation of the lamina and stemin any selected combination of grades.

Another object is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for carrying out the method in simple and efficacious manner.

Another object is to provide in connection with the apparatus, means for recovering from the air blast used in the separation,

a large amount of fine particles, usually lost. lvith these and other obgects n view, the inventi e. consists in the method-and the several steps thereof, and in the construction and novel combination of parts fully .describe-d hereinafter, illustrated in the accoin panying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that'various changes in the fo-rm, proportion, size and minor'details of construction. within the scope of the claims, may be re sorted to without departingfrom the spirit ofxthe invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 a section through three floors, showing a layout of the apparatus, and with the apparatus in side elevation, and somewhat diagrammatically shown Fig. 2 is a plan view of the layout of the two upper floors.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the first of the thrasher machines.

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of parts of the intermediate machines.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through the dust screening device.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the last thrasher.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8. i

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of the fiber fan.

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 2.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is arranged in three floors, the floors beingfiindicated at A, B and C, of Fig. 1, the stemming apparatus proper being upon floor B, while the receptaoles for the-leaf, stems and dust are on floor A., which is the lower floor. On the third floor C the blending mechanism is arranged. The said mechanism comprises an endless belt or conveyor '1, which is supported at its ends by 'lrollers 2, one of which is providedwith a pulley 3, connected by a belt a, with asuitable source of power. The rollers 2 are journalle'd .in' suitable supports 5 on' floorC, and on each side of the belt is arranged a plate 6, the plates extending between the rollers, for reta ning the tobacco 9 he e t dur n -its r t wa d the 46, in which the roller :is :journalled, and a bracket 47 in which the arms are slidable. All of the leaf particles above a selected weight are delivered'between the rollers 3348, to conveying mechanism to be described, while those below this selected weight pass over a deflecting board 48 onto an endless belt or apron 49, which is a conveyor delivering to the succeeding thrasher. Each belt 49 is supported by rollers 50 and 51. The roller 50 is journalled below the deflecting board 48, while the roller 51 is journalled at the top of the hopper 21.01" the succeeding thrasher, the arrangement being such that the upper run of the belt delivers to the hopper. A guide board or plate 52 is arranged beneath the upper run of each conveyor 49, and guard strips 53 are arranged at opposite sides of the said upper run, .to prevent displacement of the leaves fromtherun.

Those particles which are above the selected weight, are, vas before stated, delivered between the rollers 33 and 43. Such particles fall upon an endless belt 54, which is supported :by rollers 55 mounted in suitablesupport 56. The belts 54 move at right angles to the belts .49, and said belts deliver onto .a common picking belt- 57, which extends parallel to the belts 49, and is mounted in a manner to be presently described. Those rollers 55 of the conveyors remote from the thrashers are driven byibelts 58 which connect pulleys 59 on the rollers with a suitable source of power. 7

Each of the fans 36 is journalled in a suitable fan casing 60, in the upper part of the casing 20, and each casing has an axial inlet indicated at .61, which may be regulated in regard to the extent of opening by a sliding door 62, the said door 62 being mounted in guides 63 on the casing and having a handle 64 extending above the casing '20. The tangential outlet 65of each fan communicates .by a conduit with a clustthe collector of suitable construction; thrasher D by means of a conduit 66, with a collector 67, and the thrashers E and vF with a collector 68 by means of conduits 69 and 7.0. In these collectors the particles of tobacco settle and are delivered through chutes 71 and toe sand screen and riddle device, .to be later described, while the dust Thepicking belt 57 before mentioned, is supported by rollers 75 journalledin suitablesupports 76, one roller being adjacent the first thrashenfand the other near the last. It will be understood that the thrashers are arranged on the floor B, the blending mechanism and the mixer being'on the floor C. The floor A supports the receptacles for the leaf, the stems and the dust, and the picking belt delivers to one of. these receptacles in a manner to be presently described.

The last thrasher G is of the Cardwell type, differing from the first and intermediate thrashers, in that it has a plurality of assemblages of cylinder and concave and is provided with a riddlii'ig device in connection with the screening mechanism. The said thrasher includes a suitable casing 77, having at the receiving end thereof an opening through which the conveyor 49 of' the thrasher F delivers. The delivered tobacco passes down over a grain or deflecting eters of the cylinders, being arranged below and in front of the cylinders. Between thedelivery end of the concave and the receiving end of the concave 82, a perforate plate or screen is arranged, the. said screen being formed on an arc whose center is the ce-nter'of the cylinder. The tobacco passing between the teeth .83 of the concave and the. teeth. 84 of the cylinder ofthe first assemblage, passes over this screen to the second assemblage, where it is in turn ongaged by similar teeth 83-8-4 of the second assemblage. Those particles which are small enough to pass through the openings of the screen, drop down upon the riddle device to be described. The cylinders of the two assemblages are journalled in the walls of the casing, and each is provided outside the casing with pulleys 86 and 87, respectively, said pulleys being connected by a belt 88, so that the cylinders move'in unison. At the opposite side of thecasinu. the cylinder 79 has fast and loose pulleys 89, which are adapted for engagement with a belt 90, connecting the pulleys to a suitable source of power.

The riddling device comprises a box frame 91 which is SllPPOl'LGfl in inclinedposition, and for swinging movement longitudinally of the casing 77, by means of links 92, the said links'being journalled at one end on the frame 91, and at the other secured to the casing 77. 'The llnks are resilient, providing for a limited to and fro nioireinentofithe. frame. The frame :is. vi.

brated or reciprocated by means of a cam 93, on a cam shaft 9a, ournalled at the froi'it of the casing. A follower 95 encircles the cam and i link 96 connect-stile follower with the frame. The cam shaft has a pulley .97, which is connected by a belt 98, with in diameter from the upper to the lower screen. The'tobacco from the cylinder and concave assemblages is delivered onto the upper screen 99, and a bridge 102 is provided above the screen and extending transversely of the casing, below the cylinder and behind the concave, so that the tobacco passing from the assemblage falls on the bridge and is moved further onto the lower rear end of the screen. The tobacco passing through the screen falls on the screen 99 above and in front of the bridge, and passes down beneath the bridge, so that it is not mixed with the tobacco from the second assemblage, until the tobacco from both assemblages has passed the bridge.

From-the screen 99 the disintegrated to bacco leaves are moved rearwardly and gradually overflow the lower end onto a trough 104i supported by the box frame, the screen 99 beingv arran 'ed below the upper edge of the box frame. The tobacco particles which are small enough to pass" through the meshes of screen 99 fall upon the screen 100, and are gradually moved to the rear end thereof, passing through a discharge opening 105 intothe trough 10:1, before mentioned. Within the trough 10-1, the particles are partly separated into lighterand heavier particles, and all of the particles are eventually led over the lower which removes those particles of a selected buoyancy from the cycle, and this will include practically all particles which carry leaf lamina. Those particles of stem which are devoidof lamina being much less buoy ant, will discharge bygravity, the thrasher having a gravity discharge for this purpose.

Referringto Fig. 8, it will be seen that a fan casing 106 is arranged in the frame of the casing 77 below the rear end of the riddle, and a chute 107 leads upwardly and rea'rwardly from the fan to a separator casing108. The chute 107 has a discharge opening 109, just below the rear wall of the trough 10 i, and those particles which are not sufi'iciently buoyant to be lifted by the air blast from the fan 110 in the casing, will drop through the discharge 109, and through a chute 111 into a receptacle 112, arranged on floor A. The fan 110 is driven by'a belt 11:3: m a pulley 11% on the cam shaft 9%,.

particles discharge. 1e of the trough through a blast of air,

screen 100 fall upon the screen 101, and such particles as are too'large to pass through the meshes of this screen, are moved toward the rear end of the riddle, eventually reaching a trough 116, which discharges clownwardly and laterally from the riddle, as shown more particularly in Fig.11. Those particles which pass through the meshes of the screen 101 are discharged through a conduit. 117 into a dust receptacle 118 on floor A. The blast or discharge from the fan 110 may be regulated by means of a damper 1l9, which controls the inlet to the fan. l)ust is removed fromthe casing 77, through a port 120. Above the port is a hood 121, connected to a conduit 122, which is a branch of another conduit 123, opening axially of an air pump or compressor 124i,

which through a discharge conduit 125 sup plies air under pressure to the dust collector The separator casing 108 has a connection 126 with the conduit 123, before mentioned.

chute 107 and the inlet end of chute127,

an arched screen 128 is arranged, the screen separating the casing into two chambers, one of which provides a connection between chutes 107 and 127, and the other of which con municates with conduit 126. -A partial vacuum is maintained. in the separator casing, which constrains the particles of tobacco of a selected buoyancy to move upward and fall into the chute 127, through which such The dust and the like pass through the screen, and from thence to the compressor 124,, being eventually discharged into the dust collector 67. The separator casing 108 has a door 129 atits rear for permitting access thereto, and the screen has transverse plates outer face.

Those tobacco particles which have not" been already discharged from the cycle, and which are now discharging from the chute 127, are delivered to a conveyor which returns them to the cycle between thrashes E from the roller 132, to the roller 133, and

horizontally between rollers 133 and 134.

The chute 127 delivers through'an extension 135 into a boxcasing 136, which encloses the upper run of the conveyor, and at its forward end the said upper run delivers into a on its is rotated by means of thebelt 160, en;

ias'smii hopper 137 having achute'138, delivering to thrasher l1 The endless belt 131 is driven from a source of power by a belt 139, Which engages pulley 1 10 on the roller 13%. The

lower run of the endless belt 131 is supenough to pass through meshes of screen 100,

and too large to pass through meshes of screen 101, are delivered by the trough 116 to a conveyor, coinprising'an end-less belt or apron 145, supported by rollers 146 and 14:7. One of these rollers is arranged bel'oiv the outlet of the chute or spout 116, andth'e other is arranged in a pt)si'tio11'sucli that the upper run of the conveyor delivers to a fiber fan to be described. The belt 145 is provided with pockets 1 .18 at suitable intervals, which receive and hold the parti'clesof tobacco delivered by the spout and eventually deliver them into the fiber 'fan. The conveyor M5 148 is driven from the source of power by a belt 149, which engages a pulley 150 on the roller 1 17.

This fan, shown more particularly in Fig. 10, comprises a suitable supporting frame i. 151, in Which is mounted a vibrating screen 152'. The screen is' secured transversely of a boX frame 153, extending longitudinally of the frame and inclined downwardly to- Ward the front of the apparatus. The frame is supported by resilient links 154, which are pivoted at one end to the riddle frame, and secured at the other to the frame 151. The conveyor145148 delivers to a feed-table 155, which delivers the tobacco particles near the upper end of the screen; The screen is vibrated by means of ,acafm 156 on a cam shaft 157, journalled trans versely of the rear end of the frame 151'. A follower 1'58 encircles the cam and a link 159 connects the follower with the box frame It will be obvious that when theshaft gaging the pulley 161 on the shaft, the box' frame will be reciprocated and vibrated to gradually move particles which are too'large topass through the meshes of the screen to and over the lower end thereof; Such particles are delive-red into a blast of air from a suitable fan 162, arranged Within the fan casing 163 below the box frame. The tangential outlet 164 at the casing front opens into a chute 165, leading from the front end of the frame- 151 to a collector casing 166. This chute 165 has a gravity discharge 167,

delivering to the" upper end of the chute a source of forwardly the tobacco 168, extending through floor B, and discharging into a suitable receptacle 169 on floor A. The discharge or blast of the fan 162 may be regulated by means of a damper door 170, in connection with the casing. A

port or opening is provided in the upper Wall of the conduit 165, and a perforate screen 171 is arranged across the opening. The port is the inlet end of a conduit 172, communicating With the conduit 123, before mentioned. The tobacco particles from screen 152 discharge over a deflecting board 173, and those particles which pass through the screen are discharged by a spout 174 at the forward or lower end of the screen into' areceptacle 17%, arranged at v the side of the fanl g The sand screen and riddling device previously mentioned, to which the chillies 71 and 72 deliver, as shewn ore particularly in'Fi gs'. and 7, includes a suitable supporting frame 17 5, in which is mounted to reciprocate and vibrate, an open box frame 176; Tit-11in the frame three; perforate partitions or screens 177 17 8 and- 179 are arranged, thes'aid screens being spaced'apart vertically from each other. The boii frame inclines downwardly toward" its rear d'e livery end, and it is supported by resilient links 180, pivoted at their upper ends to] the box frame and secured at their lower ends tothe frame 175. The box is vibrated by means of acam' 181 on a cam shaft 182,

journalled at the front and of the'frame;

A follower 183" encircles thecam and is connected by a'l'inli 184 to the-boy frame. The shaft is rotated by means of a belt 185, connecting apulley 186 on the shaft with power. The screen 177 extends the full length of the box frame, but thes'creens 178" and 17 9 stop" short of the rear end, so that discharge space is provided-between the said rear ehds'fa'nd the rear end of-thebox frame. A trough 185 arranged at the rear end of the box frame and the screens 17 8 and 179 deliver into the trough, the screen 177 delivering over the rear end of the box frame, and the said screen is arranged below the upper edge of the frame As the box frame isvib-rated, the tobacco particles from the upper screen overflow the rear end of the box frame, and drop onto a deflecting plate 186 which guides them oiitoj a conveyor, compri in an endless belt 187, supported by rollers 188' and 189. The roller 188 is journalled' at the outer side of theframe 1'75nea r the floor, While the roller 189is' journalled coaxial with the roller 59,

thrasher E, and is' driven by a belt 190 from the source of power. From the trough 185', bef reme'ntiened, the tobacco particles are gradually worked out through a dis charge opening in the rear of thebox' frame,

falling into the deflecting plate 186, where they are mixed with the discharge from screen 177. Those particles which are small enough to pass through all thescreens, and which will be stem particles, reach the bottom of the box frame, and are deliverel therefrom through a chute 191, falling into a receptacle 192 on floor B. The conveyor 18? has side boards 193, and the conveyors 5 1, before mentioned, are similarly provided, the boards being indicated at 198 In operation, the tobacco to be blended is arranged on each side of the blending belt, preferably as it comes from the hogshead. id ith the apparatus in operation, the attendant blends the tobacco from the several hea as in a selected manner on the blending belt, which delivers it to the mixer. Here the mass of leaves is thoroughly mixed,

traveling slowly to the delivery end of the mixer, and through the chute 1 7 to the-first thrasher or disintegrator. On this device a portion of lamina is stripped from th stem and those portions having sufiicient buoyancy, which will be portions of lamina without stem material, are removed from the cycle by the air blast, being eventually delivered, onto the picking belt. lhe heavier portions pass to thrasher E, where the process is repeated, a full disintegration of the leaf taking place, and a further separation of lamina from the stem. The more buoyant portions are removedfromthe cycle and the heavier portions pass onto the thrasher From thrasher F, those portions of the leaf which have not beenremoved from the cycle pass to thrasher G, where a more thorough disintegration takes place, and where the riddling device comes into play to assist the air blast in the separation. All the particles capable of being lifted by the air blast have been removed, when the tobacco emerges from thrasher G, those portions constituted by stem only, discharging at the outlet 109, wiile the lighter stem portions discharge through the conduit 117. All of the leaf portions are blown up through the chute 107 into the separator casing, and eventually reach the conveyor 131, which delivers them to the thrasher F, and again into the cycle. The leaf particles are held in the cycle until all the lamina is removed from the stem portions, so that the stem portions may discharge through outlet 109, or through conduit 117. Each thrasher discharges its quota onto the picking belt. It will'be evident from the description, that there is a continuous separation of leaf lamina from the stem, and that only those portions of the leaf incompletely separated are retained in the cycle, when the leaf has been acted upon by thrasher G. Any leaf particles which may reach the dust collectors are separated, and returned to the cycle, by way of the sand screen and riddle, which thoroughly separates the particles from foreign matter or eyery description.

"W1 4 .L 1. F 1116 layout is so designed that LllB tobacco does not have to be elevated during the t me that it IS operated upon. From the blending beltthe movement is always on the level or I Themethod is a cyclic method, the appa ratus for carrying out the method being constituted in its essentials by mechanism for breaking up the leaf and for separating the lamina from the stem particles, together with means for constraining the leaves tov pass in cycle through said mechanism, and other means to separately remove leaf lamina and stem particles. The cycle includes thrashers F and G, the tobacco leaves being constrained to pass in cycle through these thrashers, with continuous and separate removal of buoyant particles and heavier stem particles. It is obvious that the cycle might include all of the thrashers, if desired, the

leaves being returned to the cycle in advance of thrasher D. This, however, would slow the operation to some extent, cutting down the capacity of thrashers D and E by the amount of tobacco returned into the cycle from thrasher G. At thrasher F a considerable part of the fed tobacco has been already removed, so that that portion of the tobacco returned to the cycle does not over-- burden thrasher and thrashers E and may operate to theircapacity.

While in the present arrangement the lay out is shown on three floors, the tobacco could be'handled in the same manner on one floor, and this lay-out in some instances may be preferable. may be dispensed with if desired, the to bacco being fed directly into the screening device orinto the first thrasher as may be desired. 1 v

In some instances, and with some kinds of tobacco, the thrashers D, E, F, of the first mentioned type, may be used alone, with or without the fiber fan, and the thrashers D,

E, F, and G, might be used togetherwithout the fiber fan. In some instances it might even be advisable to malre all of the thrash ers of. the G, type.

'As the leaves pass through the thrashers, the stem portions are broken into small pieces and all of the lamina is thoroughly The blending mechanism cleaned or removed from the stem portions. Practically every particle of the leaf lamina is recovered even those particles which are buoyant enough to be carried away by the air current to the dust collectors. The finer particles may be mixed with the coarse par-. ticles or they may be separately collected-as desired.

lVe claim: 1. The method of stripping tobacco, which comprises subjecting the l aves to a s ccession of disintegrating operations, winnowing out the buoyant particles between successive operations and discharging heavi er particles by gravity at regular intervals after a selected number of operations.

The method of stripping tobacco, which comprises subjecting the leaves to a succession of disintegrating operations, win- 7 nowing out the buoyant particles between successive operations and discharging heavier particles by gravity after the succession of operations, and subjec ing the remaining portions of the leaves to a succession of alternating, disintegrating and screening operations. I

3. The method of stripping tobacco, which comprises subjecting the leaves to the action of a succession of thrashers, winnowing out the lighter particles between successive thrashers, discharging heavier particles by gravity after the succession of thrashing operations, and mining the remaining portions of the leaves with the tobacco passing through the thrashers; 4. The method of blending and strippinglighter particles between successive thrash ers, discharging heavier particles-by gravity after the succession of thrashing operations,

and mining the remaining portions of the leaves with the tobacco passing through the o. The method of stripping tobacco, which Cflfill rises subjecting the leaves to the action of a succession of thrashers while retaining all of the leaves in the circulation except the buoyant particles, screenin the tobacc after it has passed all of the thrash ers to remove the stem particles, and return-- ing the remainder of the leaves to'the to method of stripping tobacco,

8. TObilCCO stemmin it) )aratus c0111 3'liS- 2: ii a ing a plurality of sets of intermeshing'teeth having relative movement in opposite directions to break the leaves including the stems into fragments, the teeth o1 the sets graduallly increasing in density of spacing, tobacco feeding means leading irom one set to another means in connection with each set for removing the lighter particles, said means at the last set having a gravity dis charge for stem particles, and means for delivering the remainder of the leaves from the last set to a preceding set.

9'. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising a plurality of thrashers for breaking the leaves including the stems into fragments, delivering one to the other, thelast delivering to. a preceding thrasher, means in connection with'each thrasher for removing the lighter particles, the last of said means having a gravity discharge for stem particles. I V

1.0. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising a plurality of thrashers for breakingthe leaves including the stems into ments, delivering on'eto the other, the last delivering to a. preceding thrasher, screen mechanism in connection with each thrasher, each mechanism including an air blast for removing lighter particles, the last or" said mechanism having a gravity discharge for particles below a selected size and above selected weight.

11. Tobacco stemn'iing apparatus, eomprising a plurality of thrashers for breaking the leaves including the stems int-o fragments, delivering one to the other, the last delivering to apreceding thrasher, sreen mechanism in connection with each thrasher, each mechanism lncluding an air blast for removing lighter particles, the last of said niechai'iism having a: gravity discharge for particles below a selected size and above a selected weight, and a'm'ixing device mixing the leaves delivering to the first thrasher.

12. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising a plurality ofthrashers for breaking the leaves including the stems into fragments, delivering one to the other, the last delivering to a preceding thrasher, screen mechanism in connection with each lliiasher, each mechanism including an air blast for r moving lighter particles, the last of said mechanisms having a gravity discharge for particles below a selected size and above a selected weight, blending mecl'ianism, and a mixing device mixing the leaves to which the blending niecl'ianism delivers, said device delivering to the first of the thrashers.

13. Tobacco stemming appaiz c, comprising a plurality of thrashers for b eaking the leaves includingthe stems into fra ments, delivering one to the other, the last deliver- I ing to a preceding thrasher, screen mechanism in connection with each thrasher, each mechanism including an air blast for removing lighter particles, the last of said mechanisms having a gravity discharge for particles below a selected size and above a selected weight, and including superposed riddles V decreasing in mesh from above downward.

14. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising a plurality of thrashers for breaking the leaves including the sterile into fragments,

delivering one to th other, the last deliveringto a preceding thrasher, screen mechanism in connection with each thre her, ech

sin including an air blast io remov lighter particles, the last of said mecha-.

nisn s having a gravity discharge for particles below a selected size and above a select ed weight, said thrashers being of the cylinder and concave type each having a continuously. moving with the air blast for straining the pi therefrom.

15. Tobacco stemming apparatus, compr1s ing a plurality of thrashers for breaking the leaves including the stems into fragments, delivering one to the other, the last delivering to a preceding thrasher, screen mechanism in connection with each thrasher, each mechanism including an air blast for iemoving lighter particles, the last of said mechanisms having a gravity dische s for particles below a selected size and above a selected weight, a cast collector 1n connecanism constructed to break up tobacco leaves including their stems and to separate lamina from the stem particles, n'ieans to constrain the leaves to pass in cycle through said mechanism, means in erposed in the cycle for separately removing leaf lamina subscreen cooperating stantially free from stem particles, and stem particles substantially free from leaf lamina, and blending and mixing mechanisn for the leaves delivering to the cycle.

18. in tobacco stemming apparatus, mechanism constructed to break up tobaccoleaves including their stems and to separate lamina from the stem particles, means to constrain the leaves to pass in cycle through said mechanism, means int rposed in the cycle for separately removing leaf lamina substantially free from stem particles, and stem particles from leaf lamina, and blending and mixing mechanism for the leaves delivering to the cycle, said mechanism including a rotary 0 .ll drical screen inclined downwardly from its inlet end, to which the several grades of tobacco are delivered.

19. In tobacco stemming apparatus, mechanism constructed to break up tobacco leaves including their stems and to separate lamina from the stemparticles, means to constrain the leaves to pass in cycle through said mechanism, and means interposed in the cycle for separatelyremoving leaf lamina substantially free from stem particles, and stem particles substantially free from leaf lamina, said last named means including an air blast and a perforate screen moving con:

tinuously one direction against which leaf lann particles are blown. r

20. in tobacco stemming apparatus, mechanism constructed to breakup tobacco leaves including their stems and to separate lamina from the stem particles, means to constrain the. leaves to pass in cycle through said mechanism, means interposed in the cycle for separately removing leaf lamina substantially free from stem particles, and stem particles substantially free from leaf lamina,

said last named means including an blast v and a perforate screen moving continuously in one direction against which leaf lamina particles are blown, and a succession of vibrating screens of decreasing mesh.

21. In tobacco stemming apparatus, mech anism constructed to break up tobacco leaves including their stems and to separate lamina from the stem particles, means toconstrain the leaves to pass in cycle through said mechanism, and means interposed in the cycle for separately removing leaf lamina substantially free from stem particles, and stem particles substantially free from leaf lamina, said breaking up and separatino mechanism including a plurality of sets oI intermeshing teeth having relative movement inoppcsite directions.

22. l n tobacco stemming apparatus, mechanism constructed to break up tobacco leaves including their stems and to separate lamina from the stem particles, means to constrain the leaves to pass in cycle through said mechanism, and means interposed in the cycle for separately removing leaf lamina including the stems, a plurality of mecha nisms for separating and removing buoyant leaf particles, means for constraining tobacco leaves to pass in alternation through the thrashers and the separating mechanisms, and means to return the remaining portions of the leaves into the circulation at a point where the quantity returning is not greater than that which has been removed.

24. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising a plurality of toothed cylinder and concave assemblages to break up the tobacco leaves including the stems, means to pass the tobacco leaves through the assemblages in succession, means to separately remove the lighter and the heavier particles, and

means to return theremaining leaves to the circulation between the first and last assemblage.

25. Tobacco stemming apparatus, compr ising a plurality of toothed cylinder and concave assemblages to break up the tobacco leaves including the stems, means to pass the tobacco leaves through the assemblages in succession, means between the adjacent assemblages for separating the light particles, gravity controlled means at the end of the succession for removing heavier parti dos, and means to return the remainder of the leaves to the circulation between the first and last assemblage.

26. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising a plurality of toothed cylinder and concave assemblages to break up the tobacco leaves including the stems, means to pass the tobacco leaves through the assemblages in succession, means between the adjacent assemblages for separating the light particles, gravity cont-rolled means at the end of 'the succession for removing heavier particles, means to return the remainder of the leaves to the circulation between the first and last assemblage, and means to blend and mix the leaves prior to their entrance into the circulation.

27. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising means to move tobacco leaves in a the same to break the leaves including the stems and separate the lamina from the stems, means ad acent the mechanisms to remove the lighter particles, and gravity controlled means in connection with the last of said mechanisms for removing theheavier p art: cles.

29..Tobac'co stemming apparatus, comprising means to move tobacco leaves over a path, the last portion of which is cyclic, and mechanisms through which the leaves are passedfor breaking up the leaves including the stems and separating the lamina from the stem, sundry of said mechanisms being in the. cyclic portion of the travel of the leaves, and means in connection with said mechanisms to separately remove the lighter particles and the heavier particles.

30. Tobacco stemming apparatus, comprising means to move tobacco leaves over a path, the last portion of which is cyclic, and mechanisms through which the leaves are passed for breaking up the leaves including the stems and separating the lamina from the stem, sundry of said mechanisms being in the cyclic portion of the travellof the leaves, and means in connection with said mechanisms to separately remove the lighter particles and the, heavier particles, said mechanisms being of the cylinder and concave thrasher type. 31. A tobacco stemming plant layout comprising a plurality of thrashers arranged in series on an intermediate floor for breaking up the leaves including the stems, mechanism for blending tobacco leaves on an upper floor, a chute receiving the leaves from the blending mechanism and delivering them to the first of the thrashers, receptacles for the product on a lower floor, and chutes for conducting thelamina, the stems and 3 the dust to the receptacles.

A tobacco stemming plant layout comprising a plurality of thrashers arranged in series on an intermediatefioor for breaking up the leaves including the stems, mechanism for blending tobacco leaves on an upper floor, a chute receiving the leaves from the blending mechanism and delivering them to the first of the thrashers, receptaclesfor the product on a lower fioor, chutes for 0011-, ducting the lamina, the stems and the dust to the receptacles, dust collectors on the upper floors, and connections between the mechanisms on the upper and intermediate floors and the dust collectors.

33. A tobacco stemming plant layout com prising a plurality of thrashers in series on an intermediate floor for breaking tobacco leaves including the stems, mechanism for blending tobacco leaves on an upper floor,

receptacles for the finished product on a lower floor, and ,meavns to transport the leaves from the blendlng mechanism to and through the tl'iresliers with the travel 01 the leaves through the last thrashers cyclic.

3%. A tobacco sten'nningplent layout comprising blending mechanism, a plurality of thrashers in series to the first of which the blending mechanism delivers, means to transport the leaves 'fioni the blending mechanism to and through the thrashers with the travel of the leaves throughthe last threshers cyclic, and receptacles forthe fin W ished product at suitable intervals.

Signed at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia this 25th day of Sept, A. D. 1924. r

r JOSEPH H. AUSTIN.

BERT W. GINN; 

